A Touch of Magic and a little Imagination

Jsgcreations@aol.com

More art can be seen at: http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/jan+steadman-jackson/all

The past few weeks I have been working extensively on a new collection of photo manipulations.  On sharing them online I have also gained commissions and positive feedback, of which I am eternally grateful.  I decided to add them to my blog as a demonstration and exhibition of what can be done to portrait photographs when given the JsJ Creations creative magic.

If interested in discussing or commissioning a portrait photo manipulation, I can be contacted on the email address at the top of this post. 

The more outrageous the pose the better when putting across an original photograph that everyone will enjoy seeing.  Fun, sparkly, dazzling portraits will make your friends and family want one for themselves............. 

Fancy adding a touch of attitude? Why not?...........

A clear photograph, preferrably with strong lines and features is all I need to turn a portrait photo into a work of beauty and intrigue.........

Original photographs do not have to be close-up portraits but distant images may not deliver the most stunning subjects on which to work the JsJ Creations magic.

January 2011

I love the depths of this design.  I also love the vitality of the red.  One can`t help but be drawn deeply into the image by the pattern and arrangement of the egg-like shapes.   

I never seem to be able to dedicate much time for my blogs. My fingers, most definitely are in way too many pies!

So...it`s a new-look art blog and hopefully more inspired artwork to fill it and make it interesting and inspiring to others who happen to click on to it.  You may have heard of the saying "Jack of all trades, master of none" - sometimes I feel this relates to me as I do so much artistically.  That`s fine up to a point, but I would dearly like to be a master of something too!

I love the colour contrasts in "Cakes".  On closer scrutiny, the reason for the title becomes more obvious, as there are indeed cupcakes in abundance. 

This photograph is one of my favourites of my youngest son.  I love his apparent moodiness and his dark, expressive olive-shaped eyes.  His long dark hair framing his face enhance his smoulderingly gorgeous look perfectly.

This abstract image is one of my latest to-date.  I like to think it depicts colour breaking through and transforming a world of darkness.  Maybe that says a lot about my philosophy on life and how I view it.  A life without colour would not be a life at all.  Colour energizes, transforms and motivates; something we all need in our lives to make us feel fulfilled, balanced and complete. 

Flickr Update

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsgcreations/show/

The flickr website was one of the first art websites to which I subscribed.  I adore it and still get inspired and motivated by the thousands of pieces of art therein.

I have been invited to exhibit across the globe, but sadly have not been able to accept any invitations as yet, due to financial constraints.  One day I hope to be able to take up exciting chances to have my art displayed in an even bigger arena, although to be fair, the internet is a massive source of opportunity and motivation.  I truly hope it continues to be so as I flourish and revel in the knowledge that so many people across the world enjoy looking at my artwork. 

Producing art in itself is a creative performance and what is a performance without an audience?  We all need to feel that what we achieve is acknowledged and worthwhile, otherwise what would be the point?  To be content and satisfied with the results of one`s creative labours is one thing but to be recognised and appreciated is another thing entirely.  Creating or performing for oneself would never be enough for the any type of artist.  Michaelangelo did not  paint his masterpieces for himself alone, Miro and Kandinsky likewise. 

 Applause, applause, applause!! The artist`s bread and water; the blood running through their veins!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsgcreations/galleries/in/

Abstract and colourful

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                                                         World on Fire

Sometimes putting a title to a piece of art, especially abstract art, can pose a few problems. Should I leave the viewer to decide how they perceive the image?  Will I spoil the picture by writing over it? etc.  I personally hate it if a title does not come to me immediately when the work is complete.  I suppose it`s because we, as artists, hope that our work speaks to us and if we cannot hear it immediately, maybe it has no obvious soul or personality of it`s own and therefore is not a sustainable piece of art?  Who knows?  All I know is that it grieves me not to have the artwork speak it`s name to me on completion. 

The red and the green colours used in "World on Fire" signified the earth to me.  This  perhaps was also due to the nature of the source photograph.  Obviously, I as the artist, decide on the colours used, and I simply love green/red combinations.  The red swirls within the core of the image, especially in the centre of the picture, could denote anger, fire or explosion.  I chose passion as I wanted to soften the overall image.  By adding text using an artistic font, I felt that I had achieved my objective.

 Cold Heart/Cruel Heart

I often use text in my work.  I feel it adds another dimension.  Some may say that adding text to a piece of art may persuade and lead the viewer along a visual path that they otherwise may not have chosen, without hinting that they should look at it from the artists` perspective, therefore viewing it with a open mind.  I suppose that is the risk one takes when choosing to add text.  I like to think that well-chosen and relevent text enhances and personalises the image in a positive way, and possibly details and describes the artists` depiction more clearly for the viewer. 

On completion of "Cold Heart, Cruel Heart", the bright turquoise represented coolness and icy temperatures against the grey of the main defining structure. There is no warmth in this piece.  The structure itself reminded me of heart valves and cavities in the body.  The imagery at the forefront demonstrated cracks or creases in dried leaves, symbolising hurt and pain.

 If used correctly, text and imagery can marry beautifully in art, indeed, typography is one of my favourite artistic styles.   

New Year Creations

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Two images created on New Years Eve.  Each one stunning, each one poignantly abstract.

I guess I could have named the top image *Infinity* as the pattern goes on and on and on!  There is something intriguing about having your eye drawn into the middle of an image.  It makes you wonder if there is something there that the eye will never see, or maybe the picture stops where it began?  Hmm.....very intriguing and just a little mystifying!

Sometimes it`s fun to steer the viewers` eye and mind in a direction you would like them to follow.  I suppose in retrospect, it could limit the image`s appeal somewhat, but there are some images that give me such a strong sense of what I want them to say and mean to the viewer, I feel they can only be enhanced by adding text to drive home the true intentional meaning of the image.

I see the darkness of the above image symbolising a cave-like dwelling and with the introduction of the deep red colour, something rather sinister.  The way the eye is led into the bottom right corner where the repeated pattern appears to end is in huge contrast to the smaller text.  An enigmatic image, indeed! 

Colours Collection

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I am fortunate enough to have several pieces by the great artist Kandinsky in my home.  Each time I look at them, I am inspired.  Such simplistic geometrical shapes, yet when you look deeper into the picture there is so much more to see.  I find myself asking why he put that there and what significance it had in that position. 
I love the colour combinations he uses and study the fluidity of the pieces he creates so beautifully.

Kandinsky pieces both intrigue and inspire me.  I find their energy and vitality fascinating and decided to paint something in the artist`s style.

I wonder if he had an idea in his head of the finished picture before painting or whether he drew an initial shape and allowed the image to create itself......

and was there any significance in the shapes themselves - were they synonymous or representational  of anything or just random shapes?

A Kandinsky inspired painting on canvas has provided this colourful print.  I was looking towards using geometric shapes, straight lines and boxes to produce an abstract image.

I then added my trademark leaves which I thought worked well with the overall impression I wanted to achieve.

Lastly I incorporated text to give a modern and diverse dimension to the overall image.

Twirl and Swirl

I called this piece "Effervescent"

The colours emanating from this picture are both stunning and vibrant. 














Like two radiant spirals these mixed media prints have depth and dimensions to draw the eye to the centre of the design.  In a frantic motion they appear to be swirling and twirling, spinning and spilling their colours in a cacophony of creativity.

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Snappages website

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http://jsgcreations.snappages.com/ for prints and posters.